Ezra Mutai

Ezra Mutai is an Assistant Professor of Food and Nutrition at the White Lodging School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, College of Business, Purdue University Northwest. His work bridges life sciences with hospitality management, focusing on dietary interventions for obesity-related diseases and community health outreach.

• Education: Postdoctoral Fellowship (Cornell University), Ph.D. in Nutritional Science (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), M.S. in Food Science (Alabama A&M University), B.S. in Biology (Livingstone College)

Research Interests

• Bioactive food compounds in health and disease
• Gut microbiome interactions with diet
• Nutrigenomics and epigenetics
• Development of targeted dietary strategies for obesity and cardiovascular diseases
• Co-leader of the Integrative Physiology and Health Sciences (IPHS) Center

Teaching & Outreach

• Teaches Essentials of Nutrition, Food Safety, Sanitation and Health
• Utilizes case studies, problem sets, and multimedia to enhance real-world application
• IPHS Center offers free public seminars on blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and weight management

Scientific Contributions

• Research on milk exosomes, microRNAs, and gut-brain axis published in Frontiers in Nutrition, BMC Nutrition, and BMC ExRNA
• Advocates for interdisciplinary collaboration between science and hospitality disciplines